Ronald "Ron" Joy

Ronald "Ron" E. Joy, MSgt USAF Retired, of Clovis, NM passed away in his home on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at the age of 83.

Ron was born to Ernest and Irma Joy of Honolulu, HI on February 13, 1938. He attended St. Louis High School in Honolulu, HI and joined the United States Air Force shortly after graduating.

Ron proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for more than 20 years. His Air Force career began in June 1956 as an Environmental Specialist. He later crossed-trained to become an Aircraft Mechanic and had the privilege of working on a multitude of aircraft as a Crew Chief overseeing and coordinating the daily maintenance of aircraft at several duty locations and while deployed to Vietnam.

While at his first duty station, Cannon AFB, NM, he met the love of his life, Gloria. They married, began a family and had the honor of being stationed at several other Air Force bases which included Hickam AFB (HI), Kadena AB (Okinawa), Travis AFB (CA), Norton AFB (CA) and Hill AFB (UT). Ron honorably and loyally served until he retired on February 1, 1977.

After serving in the United States Air Force, Ron began his second career with the Santa Fe Railroad as an electrician and machinist. He earned his second retirement from the railroad in 2000.

Ron was very active in the Clovis community. He was an active member in the Catholic Church and an auxiliary member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Santa Rosa, NM. When not attending mass, Ron had a passion for golf and even made golf clubs by hand. He had the talent to tell stories, sing and dance making people smile and laugh. His greatest reward was to see people smile and watch their eyes light up. He had a big heart and was always there to help those in need. Whether it was picking up groceries for people, driving them to appointments or just someone needing a visit, Ron was there. He will be sorely missed by many.

Ron is preceded in death by his loving wife Gloria Armijo Joy, his father, Ernest Joy, and his mother, Irma Bartels Joy. He is survived by his three sons: Ron (Coretta) Joy, Paul (Felicia) Joy, and Shawn (Wendy) Joy; sister, Gwendolyn (Brian) Payne; brother, Ernest "Ernie" (Dawn) Joy; grandchildren: Terrence Joy, LaRhonda Joy (Cody Fisher), Casey Tattershall, Meagan Joy, Nathaniel (Candice) Joy, and Ashleigh Leonard; step-grandchildren: Brittney (Chris) Teel, Colten Craig, Dylan Craig, Katelyn Hippen-Smith, Allie (William) Galvin, and Malaya Chapman; 10 great-grandchildren and his beloved dog, Kuma.

A Rosary will be held at 1:30 p.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 2:00 p.m. on October 2, 2021, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Clovis, NM. Cremation has taken place. Burial with full military honors will be held at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens Cemetery following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Tunnels to Towers [website: https://t2t.org/ ; contact 718-987-1931] or the Wounded Warrior Project [website: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=10043; contact 855-448-3997].